TPM's David Kurtz has the run-down on the GOP's new hostage-taking threat: if Dems don't cut Medicare, they will force the US into default.
Kurtz' piece is entitled, appropriately A cornered animal is a dangerous animal.
GOP is cornered by its own stupidity and partisan myopia, and is seeking to drag Democrats -- and the country as a whole -- down with them. The central point:
McConnell just announced he will not support raising the debt ceiling unless big Medicare cuts are part of the deal. Translation: Unless Democrats get us off the hook by agreeing to deep Medicare cuts (meaning Democrats can no longer attack Republicans for wanting to eliminate Medicare), then we're going to force the federal government into default on its debt.
I have little to add to this, other than to register my perpetual disgust with the Republican Party, and to entreat our Democrats not to negotiate with these politicians terrorists.
9:38 AM PT: I posted this diary because there was ability to post comments on the editorial. There is now a story up on TPM with commenting:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/...
So probably more discussion going on there than in this li'l diary.